Why the Hymn to Saint Sava belongs in every Serbian learner's notebook
The Hymn to Saint Sava is the anthem of Serbian schools - sung at assemblies, school celebrations, and the feast of Sveti Sava every January. It is a piece of living heritage, and its steady, reverent rhythm makes it a lovely way to meet formal Serbian in a setting that feels warm rather than intimidating. Even if you only learn the refrain, you will have touched something real.
Who is Saint Sava?
Saint Sava (Sveti Sava, born Rastko Nemanjic around 1175) was the youngest son of the medieval Serbian Grand Zupan Stefan Nemanja. He became a monk on Mount Athos, returned to Serbia, and in 1219 was consecrated as the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church - making him the founder of an independent Serbian church. Because he established schools and promoted literacy alongside his religious mission, he became the patron saint of education. Schools celebrate his feast day (27 January) as their own slava - the Serbian tradition of a patron-saint feast day. That school celebration is called Svetosavlje, and the hymn below is its centrepiece.
The Hymn (in Cyrillic)
Below is the full text of Himna Svetom Savi. Read it aloud slowly - the metre is regular and forgiving.
Ускликнимо с љубављу Светитељу Сави,
јер он беше Срба свих просветитељ прави.
Са Атоса светога к нама дође он,
донесе нам цркву, школу, донесе нам дом.Појте му Срби, песму и утројте!
Светом Сави слава, слава, слава!Тамо где је тама, он донесе светлост,
тамо где је ропство, он донесе слободу.
Тамо где је мржња, он донесе љубав,
тамо где је не - он рече: да!Појте му Срби, песму и утројте!
Светом Сави слава, слава, слава!Он нас учи правди, учи нас и миру,
учи нас да живимо у Србији широј.
Нека живи српска школа, нека живи ред,
нека живи Свети Сава, слава и напред!Појте му Срби, песму и утројте!
Светом Сави слава, слава, слава!
A refrain worth keeping
The refrain - Pojte mu Srbi, pesmu i utrojte! - translates roughly as "Sing to him, o Serbs, and swell the song!" The verb pojte is the imperative plural of pevati (to sing) in its older, Church Slavonic-influenced form. Utrojte means "triple it" or "swell it." It is a beautiful command: do not merely sing - amplify. Even hearing those two words will help you recognise them in other liturgical or festive contexts.
Hear it sung
This recording captures a school performance of the hymn. Notice how the children slow down on the refrain - that is the traditional way of lending it weight.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sveti Sava celebrated?
The feast day of Saint Sava falls on 27 January (14 January in the old Julian calendar). Serbian schools hold their slava on this day - assemblies, recitals, and the singing of this hymn.
What does "slava" mean for a school?
A slava is the Serbian Orthodox tradition of celebrating a patron saint. Families have their own slava, and institutions - including schools - can have one too. For schools, Sveti Sava is the universal patron, so every Serbian school shares the same slava day.
Is the hymn used in church services?
Not in the liturgy itself - it is a civic-religious hymn used at school and public ceremonies. You may hear it at cultural events, not during the Divine Liturgy.
How old is the hymn?
The most widely sung version was written by the poet Vojislav Ilic Mladi in the late 19th century. The melody it is most often paired with became standardised during the Kingdom of Serbia period, though arrangements vary.
Can a non-Orthodox learner appreciate this hymn?
Absolutely. The hymn is as much a cultural text as a religious one. Understanding it helps you understand Serbian attitudes toward education, national identity, and community - all valuable context for any language learner.
I hope this little piece of Serbian school life finds a warm corner in your studies. The hymn is short enough to memorise the refrain in an afternoon, and once you have it, you will always have something to sing on 27 January. If you have heard this hymn at a school celebration or would like to share a memory of Sveti Sava's day, please leave a comment - I love hearing your stories.
Sreća u ucenju! - Marina Petrovic
More Serbian traditions: browse the Serbian Holidays category.